The best show of the holiday doldrums by far is The 37th Annual Kennedy Center Honors (CBS, 9 p.m.), the lone arts program of the year from broadcast TV, where you will see actual ballet by way of celebrating the work of Patricia McBride. Increasingly, the program, attended by the President and First Lady, is bent toward popular arts, such that Tom Hanks gets recognition from notorious hermit David Letterman, and Lily Tomlin’s salute includes big stars who were inspired by her from Jane Lynch to Kate McKinnon to “9 to 5” co-star Jane Fonda and, for whatever reason, Reba McEntire (instead of Dolly Parton?). At any rate, the Tomlin appreciation seems to have missed her point a bit, possibly because she had a bigger recognition in the hall with the Mark Twain Prize for Humor more than a decade ago.
But the musical tributes that bookend the fine evening are very strong, with Al Green honored by Earth, Wind & Fire, Jennifer Hudson, Usher and Sam Moore with Mavis Staples working out “Take Me to the River.” Then, at the end, Sting gets feted by Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen (doing an intense “I Hung My Head”), Esperanza Spalding with Herbie Hancock and Bruno Mars. The CBS presentation is also a good way to showcase future “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, out of his Comedy Central character. Yet as a charming (though rarely seen) host, he exhibits much of the same quick humor. (A self serving speech from producer George Stevens Jr., grousing about being fired from future broadcasts was itself cut).
The terrible, shaky camera, two part bogus miniseries “Revelation: The End of Days” (History, 9 p.m.), a kind of “Blair Witch Project” of archeology, with all manner of “repurposed” news footage (that is to say: using footage of actual tragedies to give life to their fake one), reaches its own end of days. “Revelation” is History’s version of “Sharknado” without the laughs, an effort that will only undercut any actual history they eventually program, should they tire of “Pawn Stars” to do so. Part one of the disgraceful, cheaply-made scare film reruns at 7 p.m. (and with any luck never will again).
Before the puck is dropped on Thursday’s big outdoor game at Nationals Stadium in D.C., here’s the final installment readying the field (which apparently won’t see snow) in “Road to the NHL Winter Classic” (Epix, 10 p.m.).
The host goes to a Hindu festival and then to Nigeria on two episodes of “Sacred Journeys with Bruce Feller” (PBS, 8 and 9 p.m., check local listings).
Abby goes dating on “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce” (Bravo, 10 p.m.).
The network little mini marathons on primetime broadcast include “Forever” (ABC, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.), “Chicago Fire” (NBC, 8, 9 and 10 p.m.), “New Girl” (Fox, 8 and 9 p.m.) and “The Mindy Project” (8:30 and 9:30 p.m.). Every other series show — “NCIS” (CBS, 8 p.m.), “The Flash” (The CW, 8 p.m.) and “Supernatural” (The CW, 9 p.m.) is a rerun as well.
Turner Classic Movies honors some of those who died this year, including Maximilian Schell in (8 p.m.), Juanita Moore in “Imitation of Life” (10:15 p.m.), Elaine Stritch in “Kiss Her Goodbye” (12:30 a.m.), Robin Williams in “Good Will Hunting” (2:15 a.m.) and Philip Seymour Hoffman in “Doubt” (4:30 a.m.).
Other movies of note tonight include “Beetlejuice” (IFC, 7 p.m.), “Basic Instinct” (Sundance, 7:15 p.m.), “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” (Showtime 2, 7:45 p.m.), “Step Brothers” (FX, 8 and 10 p.m.), “The Grand Budapest Hotel” (HBO, 8 p.m.), “Dreamgirls” (HBO2, 9 p.m.), “Jaws” (IFC, 9 p.m.) and “Mama” (HBO, 9:45 p.m.).
It’s Notre Dame vs. LSU (ESPN, 3 p.m.) in the Music City Bowl, Georgia vs. Louisville (ESPN, 6 p.m.) in the Belk Bowl and Maryland vs. Stanford (ESPN, 10 p.m.) in the Foster Farms Bowl .
In college hoops, it’s Northwestern at Rutgers (ESPNU, noon), Iowa at Ohio State (ESPN2, 1 p.m.), Virginia Tech at West Virginia (ESPNU, 2 p.m.), Illinois at Michigan (ESPN2, 3 p.m.), Cincinnati at N.C. State (ESPNU, 4 p.m.), Maryland at Michigan State (ESPN2, 5 p.m.), Davidson at Virginia (ESPNU, 6 p.m.), Florida at Florida State (ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Ole Miss at Dayton (CBS Sports, 8 p.m.) and Oklahoma State vs. Missouri (ESPN2, 9 p.m.).
In pro basketball, it’s Cleveland at Atlanta (NBA, 7:30 p.m.).
Daytime Talk
Kelly & Michael: Blake Shelton, Josh Hutcherson (rerun). The View: Pitbull (rerun). The Talk: Howie Mandel, Nikki Yanofsky, Valentine, Marjorie Johnson (rerun). Ellen DeGeneres: Bill Murray, Shailene Woodley, Lady Antebellum (rerum). Wendy Williams: Carla Hall (rerun). Meredith Vieira: Cedric the Entertainer, Petra Memcova, Chuck Nice, Caroline Rhea, Jennifer Esposito. Queen Latifah: Michael Weatherly, Miles Teller (rerun).
Late Talk
David Letterman: Chris Rock, Sting (rerun). Jimmy Fallon: Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, ogic (rerun). Jimmy Kimmel: Emily Blunt, Lee Pace, Alt-J (rerun). Seth Meyers: Nathan Lane, Weird Al Yankovic, Garry Marshall (rerun). Craig Ferguson: Sarah Paulson, Jim Rash (rerun). Carson Daly: Cillian Murphy, Colleen Green, Hector Tobar (rerun). Tavis Smiley: Lisa Kudrow (rerun). Conan O’Brien: Neil Patrick Harris, Damian Lillard, Kiesza (rerun).